FOREIGN AFFAIRS—SYRIA

Senator Rhiannon, also on behalf of Senator Moore, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved general business notice of motion no. 1214—That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) it is 2 years since violence erupted in Syria, an estimated 70 000 people have been killed and more than 1 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, with an estimated 2.5 million people displaced inside Syria and an estimated 4 million people requiring humanitarian assistance,

(ii) Syria's hospitals have been damaged with a third no longer functioning and there is a shortage of medicine,

(iii) food production throughout Syria has been dramatically curtailed and food prices have soared leaving many people unable to feed their families, and

(iv) despite the impeded humanitarian access the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has expressed concern that UN agencies expect to receive only half of the funding pledged; and

(b) welcomes Australia's support of $41.5 million to date for the Syrian crisis.